A Sneak Peek Inside Paradox!

True-life incidents make for exciting action in David Steece’s blistering story based on his own extraordinary experiences with the criminal mind, sexual exploitation, and corrupt politics. Paradox is filled with colorful, larger-than-life characters and interspersed with real-life documents from Steece’s criminal rap sheet, ownership of gambling casinos, and his late conversion to law enforcement.

Like the two faces of the Roman God Janus, David Steece’s Paradox portrays Blackie—Steece’s street name—as a connected gangster; a sociopath…nefarious, vindictive and egomaniacal. Then, conversely, it reveals him to be a true crime detective and a warm, humorous family guy; a doting father who adores his “angel” daughters.

The Story Begins:

The ringing phone broke the silence of the early morning. Blackie rolled over and picked it up on the third ring and said “Yeah”. Blackie, David Steece’s street name, was 6’3 and 235 pounds, his muscular upper body and wiry legs required that his clothes be custom altered in addition to the coat adjustment to hide the .44 Magnum that was always on his right hip. His natural dark complexion was copper colored from the southern sun, accenting his high cheek bones and making his distinctive black eyes menacingly that of a predator when angered. His nose had been broken a couple of times but, hell, Sicilian noses were big and crooked anyhow. He had a scar on the edge of his chin where a pistol sight had cut him in a fight. There was an indention over the right eyebrow where a shotgun pellet had dented the skull permanently. He had a three and a half inch scar on his throat from surgery. A knife fight had left him with a scar crossing the middle, ring, and little finger on the left hand. His natural body oils made his coal black hair seem even blacker than it was. After listening a minute, Blackie said, “Yeah, I have to go kick some coonass’s ass the Commissioner don’t like. I’ll call ya later.” He dressed in a black mohair suit, white on white shirt with diamond stud cuff links, white on white tie, gold nugget bracelet on one wrist, his Rolex on the other. A three stoned diamond pinkie ring and black alligator shoes, the standard dress for his image. He strapped on his ankle gun, put his pet .44 Magnum on his hip. He kissed his three sleeping girls good-by, turned them over to his trusted girlfriend, and jumped into the Commissioner’s white Buick.

He pulled off the interstate into the fertilizer companies parking lot, parked and walked into the office. Blackie went in the front door and saw a blond, thirty-fivish, sitting at the reception desk. He told her “The Commissioner called, Lefty’s expecting me.”

Blackie surveyed the reception office as the secretary disappeared into the private office. She reappeared almost instantaneously and held the door open for Blackie to enter. He strode inside pulling the door closed behind him. It was a large, expensively furnished office with sofas on two walls, a bookcase with a TV on the other, and two high wing back chairs in front of a huge mahogany desk. He crossed the room as Lefty stood up from behind the desk and came to meet him. Lefty was a late forty’s kind of a squat ruddy-faced man, obviously of French descent. The mousy brown hair had receded enough to leave a round shiny spot. He was dressed in a white open-collar shirt, slacks, and cowboy boots.

As they shook hands, Blackie said, “The Commissioner told me you have a name and address of someone who’s having a mouth problem.” Lefty picked up a small piece of paper off his desk and handed it to Blackie. It had a name and address, apartment number, a car model, make, color and license number. He glanced at the paper and asked, “Can you give me a physical?” Lefty responded with a nod. “He’s about 6’ 190 pounds, dark hair, and a smart ass.”

“Does he live alone?”

“I guess he does unless he has some one-night stand.”

“Does he carry?”

“I don’t believe.”

“Okay. The commissioner appreciates this, ya hear. He’ll be in touch with ya.”

They shook hands and Blackie left. As Blackie walked back through the reception office and thanked the blond, he wondered if she was any good when she was twenty. Cellulite, bleach and too much make-up had taken its toll, and he figured if you unsnapped her bra and skirt at the same time, she’d roll out like a broken dam in all directions.

Blackie turned into the apartment parking lot, he wished he wasn’t in the commissioner’s white Buick. It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull, and he didn’t need that. He parked, and went to check the mail boxes for the dude with the bad mouth. No mail in his box, which meant he was either already home or he didn’t know anybody who knew how to write. Blackie walked through the apartment complex and by the window of the dude’s apartment, but he couldn’t see anything. Damn! Why weren’t these ass holes more cooperative? Bad mouth could just come outside so Blackie could kick his ass and get it over with. He went back to the Buick and found a parking place with a better view and waited. After a little while, his luck turned. The dude’s door opened and he came out. Blackie got out of the car with a piece of paper in his hand, approached the man, and asked him for some dumb name. The dude said he never heard of him and as he turned away, Blackie drove a hard right shot into his left kidney that doubled him over. Blackie spun him around and drove another into the pit of his stomach, and out came the rest of his wind and most of his last meal.. It’s hard to yell with your wind knocked out. But just in case, Blackie put his left hand behind the dude’s head, and right hand over his mouth and drove his knee up between his legs and the dude lurched and slumped to the ground. Blackie bent over him and snapped the switchblade open and pressed it against his neck.

Fear was shining in his eyes as he nodded. Blackie raised up and looked between the parked cars. Even though it had only been a few seconds and almost no sounds, you could never be too careful. Leaning back over the dude, Blackie said, “Listen to me good boy, cause I’m only gonna say this once. You gotta bad mouth. Someone I know don’t like it over in Baton Rouge. You think you’re a bad ass but you’re just an asshole. You say one more word on that radio station you work for or anywhere else and when you least expect it….poof! You’re gonna disappear. Now I know after I’m gone you’re gonna think about this and figure I got lucky this time. You think that the police, or the feds, or that somebody else will protect you. You’ll get big and bad again with that bad mouth. But while you’re thinking, remember how well they protected Jimmy Hoffa, and how quick they caught the guys who did him in. And they had a lot of people lookin’ for him. An asshole like you, the fuzz will stop after a couple of days. Even if my man goes to jail, or gets hit by a car, or is unlucky and lightening strikes him, you’re still gone, see, cause I already got my bread and I got a reputation to keep. I’m gonna go now. Don’t move until you hear the car drive away, and after I’m gone, you can get up, go tell the apartment manager you fell down in the parking lot and sue ‘um, and your night won’t be all bad after all. Be seein’ ya.”

With that, Blackie closed the knife and left. He drove straight back to his county hideout outside of Hammond, wanting to get there before the girls went to bed.

As he sped along the interstate he thought about his daughter Teri, and how quickly she had grown to be a beautiful young lady. His ‘little princess’ with the enchanting almond shaped brown eyes was already in college – time does fly! Bitsie, his angel, away at a private school in New Orleans now. Even though she was adopted, she was so much like him you would have thought he spit her out. Coal black hair, passionate, big brown eyes, always filled with love and happiness at the sight of him.

Lu, his heart, was just a year younger, and didn’t have that same black hair but she had even bigger brown eyes. She followed him around constantly with a total admiration, sort of a female Dennis the Menace, but definitely a Daddy’s girl.

Alley, his eyes, was just starting school and was awed by her ability to suddenly pronounce words on highway signs as she began to learn to read. She was the one that most people said was the ‘apple of his eye.’ And she definitely had his black expression-filled eyes.

Rae, his love, the baby, was still into pushing her doll around in the carriage and had almost perfect features like her mother. Copper colored complexion like daddy but she had her mother’s petite build and soft warm quality. Not loud like the others, he wondered where they get all the loudness from, chuckling to himself.

He wondered if he’d ever find a woman who could love him and his girls, so they could all live some semblance of a normal life.

99 Comments

What a wonderfully insightful story to what Hollywood paints over. A great read that is not only educational into the workings of today’s Mafia, but an entertaining page-turner by a colorful character. This book will have you rushing to buy the next!

Master Guns! It was a pleasure meeting you today in Waxahachie. My son has not yet put the book down. I hope the movie gets made soon about your life as the world should know of your fantastic exploits.
Semper Fidelis

Jan Essence
on May 30, 2014 at 8:46 pm

Essence Jen

I just got to finish reading Paradox and I must say I loved it. I’m gonna be getting your next 2 of the trilogy I’m hooked You’re a great writer and I’m not sure if I mentioned it before I grew up watching gangster movies so meeting u and reading your book was an awesome experience. Going looking for the other 2.

Brian Hayes
on May 30, 2014 at 8:38 pm

Blackie,

It was a pleasure meeting you and I am thoroughly enjoying Paradox. I wish you nothing but the greatest success.

Best Wishes,

Brian

SFC, US Army Tony T. Williams
on May 30, 2014 at 8:35 pm

Thank you for another great photo Don Blackie! I watched the DVD last night before taking off to Fort Riley… AWESOME!!!

Safe travels sir and may we cross paths again!

Respectfully yours,

Tony T Williams

SFC, U.S. Army

Dina Tabet
on May 30, 2014 at 8:31 pm

Thank you Blackie. I really enjoyed getting to know you and Barbara. I appreciate the connection and wisdom.
D-

Hey david, it was nice talking to you last year or year before last, can’t rememeber but, semper fi anyway. didn’t know you were a firtshirt. You were a rough fellow before you joined the marines, huh? later jim.s

Donald Black
on October 5, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Thanks for the PIC. I got it this time.

In a life filled with uncertainty and a vast void of truth…I am certainly relieved to meet someone who lives life on the edge simply by “telling it like it is.”

I look forward to the next book…complete with leather cover (handsome it will be).

I sincerely wish you the greatest success.

PAX
Donald

Joshua Turman
on September 6, 2012 at 8:29 pm

about halfway through the book really good!. SEMPER FI!

Christopher Wilkes
on August 22, 2012 at 8:45 pm

Blackie,

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about your book. I am enjoying your story. I hope our paths cross agian in the future. As Ever Shea Wilkes

Niockolas Elie
on August 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm

thank you for the picture and the book. i gotta say seeing you in the mini mall at sheppard i had no idea you had lived a life like you explain in your book. Im almost done with paradox and cant wait to get your continued book. have a great day. A1C Elie

John Babick
on August 13, 2012 at 8:18 pm

I’m really enjoying the book so far. As far as I can tell your a grade a bad ass, and that’s just through chapter 3. It was truly a pleasure to meet you. Expect me to be getting the series soon.

Brian Delrosario
on August 6, 2012 at 9:12 pm

MGySgt Steece!

Great book! You live the life all men wish for: a life of kicking ass,
getting laid, and getting paid! I’ll order the second book soon. Can’t
wait to read more.

Very respectfully,

Brian M. Delrosario
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

MGySgt Steece!

Great book! You live the life all men wish for: a life of kicking ass,
getting laid, and getting paid! I’ll order the second book soon. Can’t
wait to read more.

Very respectfully,

Brian M. Delrosario
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

Louis Warner
on July 21, 2012 at 7:31 pm

Thank you!!!! Thank you for the pictures, I’ll get them printed and come back so you can sign them

Michael Amos
on July 21, 2012 at 7:26 pm

Thank you, fellow Brother in Arms. Paradox is turning out to be quite the page turner! Safe travels, “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face”

MJ Amos

Jeffrey Abarcrombie
on June 20, 2012 at 6:42 pm

Hey thanks the book is great! Wish i had more time to talk to you. I meant to tell you my step dad was imvolved as well and lost his life when i was 17, so its cool to be able to read your book and some how connect. You will be hearing from me often cause u remind me of my dad with your i dont give a damn attitude. Talking to you really was like talking to my dad again well until next time.

Becky Vincent
on June 19, 2012 at 9:47 pm

Thanks so much for the picture. Megan will be ecstatic. Enjoyed meeting you and Barb. You were right. I am almost thru with ‘Paradox’. Having trouble putting itdown, and Kent can’t wait for me to finish it so he can start it. I shouldbe starting ‘Honor’ by tomorrow. WOW! You know the Louisiana”underground” is there, but the way u word it, no doubt u werethere, because I feel like I was too! Thanks for the “education!” Best wishes and God Bless.

Becky Vincent
Administrative Officer
Lake Charles ATC

Sheryl Stegal
on May 21, 2012 at 11:09 am

David, thanks for the picture…I am loving the book….. Blackie is quite a guy….unusual to see a tough guy be such a a great father… very nice to meet you….sheryl

Pat Fulks
on May 17, 2012 at 8:49 pm

Hello David,

Paradox was a great book. I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. When will your next book be out? I’m standing by to purchase it and read it too.

Thanks for the picture at the Slidell Gun Show.

Pat Fulks

Sharon and Hope
on February 27, 2012 at 6:13 pm

AWESOME .. thanks Marine !
Don’t forget to let us know when we can order your next installment !!
Keep Smiling .. let the bastards wonder what you’re up to!

Dr Casey Dunn
on February 2, 2012 at 7:21 pm

Hi Mr. Steece,

Thank you so much for the kind words and photo. It was an honor to have the opportunity to care for you, and I am thrilled that you had such an excellent outcome. I’m currently on chapter two of your life story, and am enthralled. I’ll be sure to let Coach Davie know of your thoughts on his coaching abilities, but in truth I never envisioned myself playing in the NFL. I’ve always felt my professional life would lie within the medical profession. So while he and his staff were not my favorite, it was also my choosing. Thanks for the chuckle though! All the best in your future endeavors, I look forward to the next two books in your series. Hopefully I’ll see you under better circumstances in the future.

Go Irish!
Casey

Jeniffer Pitts
on February 2, 2012 at 7:10 pm

Blackie,
We really had a great time with you and we feel so lucky that you shared your amazing story with us! Looking forward to the next book!

Thanks, Jennifer

Christy Embach
on January 26, 2012 at 6:06 pm

Hi Blackie. Thanks for the pic. Maddie and I enjoyed meeting you Blackie. I am enjoying the book!

Safe travels……

Christy E

Donna
on January 26, 2012 at 6:02 pm

Thank you for the picture. My husband, read it in two days.
He loved the book. Donna

Brandy
on January 26, 2012 at 3:49 pm

Thanks Blackie,

I’m really enjoying the book. I never would have thought you were as funny as you are! Looking forward to more.

Misty

Brandy

Jeff Aultman
on January 26, 2012 at 3:47 pm

You’re the Man! Will have some fellow Marines come see you tomorrow.

Jeffrey T. Altman

George Shell
on January 26, 2012 at 3:44 pm

Blackie,

Great meeting you and look forward to reading the book. Semper Fi!

v/r

Allen

Carol Bustos
on January 26, 2012 at 3:41 pm

…Absolutley love the book…want another one!

USMC Kevin Kyle
on January 26, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Blackie, it was great meeting you today. Thanks for the photo, I love it. Semper Fi Brother.

USMC Diana Squier
on January 26, 2012 at 3:31 pm

to me

Thanks again for the time and the book. I’m sure my son will enjoy it.
Hope you are blessed indeed with the sale of your book, and that your tour
will be an enjoyable one………diana

Randall Lopez
on January 26, 2012 at 12:04 pm

david i am almost done. love the book!

Dr. Cathy Lutz
on January 26, 2012 at 11:59 am

Thanks David — it was good to meet you and I wish you well…Cathy

Carolyn Snapp
on January 26, 2012 at 11:56 am

Hi:
Enjoyed meeting you in the BX, Dad had surgery and recovering, he really likes your book!
Hopefully it won’t take him long to read it so I can read it:) Thank you for the picture.
Merry Christmas!
Carol Snapp

William Pippin`
on January 26, 2012 at 11:50 am

Have you published your new book yet? If so please let me know how I can get a copy.

David Peterson
on January 26, 2012 at 11:48 am

Thanks again for the book and the Photo. Was a pleasure to meet you.
V/R
David Peterson

George P. Baiard
on January 26, 2012 at 11:45 am

David,

Thanks! A Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year to you and yours.

Keep a low profile.

George P. Baird

Mike Byrge
on January 26, 2012 at 11:42 am

David,
Finished to book….really enjoyed it. Hoping for a sequel!

Thanks,
Mike Byrge

Martin Santos
on January 26, 2012 at 11:39 am

sir, Love the book and want your next one! have a good trip to your next location, where ever you go, be safe.

God Speed

A1C Santos, Martin, USAF
338TRS, 81 TRW, Keesler AFB

Clyde Litz
on January 26, 2012 at 11:37 am

Mr. Steece
It was a pleasure meeting you and hearing all about your life. I’m about halfway through the book and it’s only Christmas Day!! It is a great read!!!
Thank you for the picture and signing our book. Look forward to the next book that is coming out. I noticed you were on facebook, we are on there too. Will you be back to the Keesler Air Force Base area when your new book comes out or will it be available via http://www.davidsteece.com?
Thanks again and Happy New Year!!
Buddy & Stephanie Litz (the redhead)

Tyler Messec
on January 26, 2012 at 11:31 am

Hey David thanks for stoping by, we still have customers talk about how you are the best greeter Hastings has ever had!
I got the pictures you sent, you and Clifford make a good team. Thanks again for coming and don’t forget about us next time around!

Take Care
Tyler Messec
Hastings Norman OK

Bill Breault
on January 26, 2012 at 11:26 am

Hey down south….

Thanks for the picture. Got your card as well, can’t wait for the new book. Be safe down there… Good to hear from you. Need anything from up North, give me a shout. Bill

Becky Muchmore
on October 30, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Thank you! I had not planned on buying anything other than the item I had preordered. Lack of will power put your book in my hand. I truly did not know exactly what to expect but I am very pleased with what I have read so far. The last book I read was also a true story and I felt sad after reading it. I waited until I was “struck” by the next book I was to read. If I didn’t feel drawn to it, I wasn’t going to buy it. (It wasn’t exactly in my budget.) And, your book was nothing like the books I typically buy. I have finally been able to read the Preface and the Forward. Already I am wanting to stay up into the night reading it.Thank you for introducing it to me! Just from the little I have read, I believe it will be filled with intrigue, and a story of which the only way I would ever know it would be for me to read it in this book.
My son, the one who was with me when I bought the book, is not a reader despite all my efforts to get him interested in a story. I hope to entice him with quotes from your book that I think he will like and kind of “hook” him into the book. If I am successful, ‘davidsteece’s PARADOX’ would be the first book he has ever read. A lot of hopes are placed on this book. From what I read, I think it has the possibility of making many of them (hopes and dreams) come true. I have no regrets regarding my purchase today!

Good luck with your sales!!! Thank you for the autograph and the picture!
Becky Muchmore

OH! Did I hear you say there is a sequel to this book coming out soon? I look forward to late nights reading . . . early morning reads, and well, reading just any time I get the chance! And if there IS a sequel, I hope it comes out soon . . .
Becky

Daryl Ross Halencak
on October 18, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Blackie: The picture was wonderful; I thank you for it.
As to your book:

…the books casts a spell on the reader; in fact, once I started reading, I could not put it down. …captivating, creative and very informative. This author has created a book that is worth buying just to see how an individual can reform himself from the underworld to an example for all. I recommend it to both adults as well as young adults.

Daryl Ross Halencak
author, STARING BLUE EYES

Guy Patrick
on October 11, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Hi David Steece,

I have finally got the picture. The book is really amazing too, a very good job.

Thank you very much.

Manda Turner
on October 10, 2011 at 4:46 pm

Thanks for the picture. Love the book so far. Manda Turner

Becky Byrd
on September 22, 2011 at 9:26 pm

Thanks for the pic. I read half the book last night and was very impressed. Can’t wait for the second one! Becky

Jim Buie
on September 21, 2011 at 8:30 pm

Blackie, Thanks for sending the picture. Saw you in the Longview News this morning. I’ve started reading Paradox and can’t put it down. It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday, and the beautiful lady with you (sorry I didn’t get her name). Best to both of you. Keep writing–you have a great style. Jim Buie

Pat Steuben
on September 16, 2011 at 10:00 pm

David…the book was brilliant! The detail, the pace, the humor and don’t forget all the naked, redheads. Waiting to find out what happened to Sandy. The way you put the 5 loves of your life before anything or anyone….you could be Al Capone’s ghost and I’d have your back. Till the next time, take care. Pat

Paul Hamra
on September 12, 2011 at 5:51 pm

David,
Just received the photo. Thank you! Enjoyed meeting you the other day. Your book is very interesting-hope you do another one! Take good care!
-Paul

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About Me

David Gioradno-Steece was born in 1937 and began his writing career in the early 1960s as the Editor of the Delta Lions Club Monthly. During David’s career as a gangster, he was commissioned by the Louisiana State Police, the New Orleans Police Department, Harahan Police Department, and after his last arrest in the early 1970’s was commissioned by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, Slidell Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Delgado Community College Police. He is a Marine, father of six, capo, cop, and author leaving very little doubt that there is nothing he cannot do.